Indra Harsaputra and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Bojonegoro, Cepu
The East Java search and rescue team is deploying three choppers and scores of rubber boats to evacuate stranded flood victims in the Bojonegoro regency, which is predominantly under water.
The SAR team's operation division head, Hernanto, said Sunday that deploying helicopters was the best option available because 90 percent of the Bojonegoro region of some 2,384 square kilometers was still inundated with water from the overflowing Bengawan Solo River.
The situation had hampered rescue operations, with limited numbers of volunteers and equipment, Hernanto said.
"But we will do our best. We will continue to airdrop food to people who cannot be evacuated yet," Hernanto told The Jakarta Post.
Bojonegoro is one of the two worst-hit regencies in the recent floods in East Java. The other is Ngawi regency.
Both Bojonegoro and Ngawi are situated next to the Bengawan Solo river and flooding is an annual occurrence in both towns. This year's floods, however, have been said to be the worst ever.
Bojonegoro Regent Mohammad Santoso said thousands of flood victims had been evacuated, many to the town's main square.
"This is the worst flooding we have ever had. From our part, we have set aside Rp 900 million (about US$98,000) to help flood victims. Our focus now is to evacuate those still trapped in their homes," Santoso said.
Ngawi disaster mitigation division head Mohammad Shodiq said this year's flooding had submerged a total of 60,000 homes and displaced more than 120,000 people.
"We don't know when the waters will recede," he said.
The flooding has slowed transport between Solo in Central Java and Surabaya with public transport rerouted on small roads to bypass Ngawi.
Outside Ngawi and Bojonegoro, the overflowing Bengawan Solo river, stretching some 600 kilometers from Solo, has also inundated several other regencies including Cepu in Central Java, Gresik and Tuban, both in East Java.
Local governments in affected areas have built makeshift camps to accommodate displaced people, including one in Cepu.
"We cannot go home yet. The water is still 2 meters deep in our village. Many of our fellow villagers have complained of various illnesses," said Soleh, a displaced person from Balun village at an evacuation camp in Cepu.
As of Sunday, a total of 10 people had been killed in the floods.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday visited his hometown of Pacitan in East Java to inaugurate a number of projects, and not to visit flood victims, and met East Java Governor Imam Utomo to discuss flood mitigation measures.
Yudhoyono left Pacitan on Sunday afternoon for Sukoharjo in Central Java, to see the flooded areas firsthand.
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